Hi everyone, my name is Amini and I am also a student at George Mason University. In the summer of next year: I will be receiving my bachelors in individualized studies with a concentration in finance, philosophy, & law; and a minor in non-profit studies. I’m also a graduate student at Havard University getting my certification in corporate finance, which I will apply towards a masters degree once I complete my research at Mason. The main focal point of my research is diving deeper into the world of micro finance, in order to bring about stability in developing nations like mine, the Democratic Republic of Congo, where I was born. I believe putting the power back into the hands of the people, is the only the sustainable solution to ending senseless greed-fueled suffering. This is what inspired me to start my own nonprofit, my own mentorship program, and to join the African Women Council. This is what gave me the courage to compete and win the title of Miss RD Congo Virginia and become the 1st Princess of Miss RD Congo USA and become an advocate. This is what lead me to this amazing organization, The Enough Project, and become an activist. To become an impactful student up-stander, I will use my experience with varying leadership positions on campus such as: being elected twice as President of Tau Sigma National Honor Society, getting a resolution unanimously passed while serving in the executive cabinet of Student Government, and managing all 400+ organizations on campus with my RSO Leadteam, and serving as student chair of the Mason Service Council. Through these positions and others I have learned diplomacy, bureaucracy, and most importantly humility. Along with collaboration, these three traits will be the key to achieving of my beloved George Mason University; proudly becoming a conflict free campus. 

Ellen Bresnick is currently a sophomore at Washington University in St. Louis double majoring in Political Science and African and African American Studies. Ellen has worked with the Enough Project since her sophomore year in high school. During that time she successfully passed a resolution advocating for positive investment in companies that have taken action against conflict minerals in their supply chains. As a Student Upstander, she looks forward to continuing to engage fellow students on campus and raising awareness about atrocities occurring around the world.

Rujjares Hansapiromchok is a first-year graduate student at the George Washington University, studying in International Education with a concentration in global and post-conflict development. She received two Bachelors of Arts in Political Science and Religious Studies, with a minor in African Studies from California State University, Northridge. She was a team member of the Communications Task Force for STAND, after learning about STAND during her internship at Jewish World Watch in Los Angeles. She is currently a graduate fellow at the United Nations Association learning about the UN’s mission. She is passionate about human rights protection, global development, and genocide and mass atrocities prevention and hopes to work in the field of peace and conflict resolution in the future.

Hi everyone, my name is Oumou Ly, and I am a student at George Mason University studying Conflict Analysis and Resolution, with a concentration in Justice and Reconciliation. I hope to use my degree to work closely with African countries in combating violent conflict through peace building practices. I was born and raised in Silver Spring, Maryland, however, am originally from Dakar, Senegal, which is where my passion for supporting non violence in Africa stems from. This year, I am the African Student Association President here on campus, and I hope to use my position to educate members on the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo.  In my free time, I enjoy traveling, watching documentaries, and being involved on campus. 

Johan is a senior at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in Illinois where he is majoring in Computer Engineering. He moved from the Democratic Republic of the Congo with
his entire family at the end of 2014. While looking for an internship in the tech industry, Johan learned about the work of Enough Project. He used the Enough Project conflict minerals company ranking to pick his top companies. He enjoys talking about his country to his friends in order to bring awareness to the tragedy happening. He still follows closely the political arena in
the Congo. This year, Johan was a speaker in a small class at Parkland College in order to bring some insights about the 2018 elections in DRC. Johan enjoys playing video games and reading
mangas.

Hey Upstanders! I’m Ashley. I’m happy to finally start working on my Master’s in Nonprofit Management at the University of Baltimore. I work in the food service industry but have always looked for ways to do humanitarian work when possible. I found out about the Enough Project through facebook and I’m really pleased about my discovery. I’m hoping to bring my project to Congress in Baltimore and to two Universities, Towson (where I got my Bachelor’s) and UB where I am currently.

I’m Alison. I’m a sophomore at Baylor University in Waco, TX and I’m studying Journalism and International Studies. This is my second year with the Student Upstanders program, and I’m also the STAND advocacy lead for Texas. I became involved in issues of genocide prevention in middle school, initially focusing on Sudan but later becoming interested in other conflicts as well. I’m particularly interested in finding ways for survivors to tell their stories, as I think that their voices can get lost in discussions and reporting about the crisis, when they ought to be at the center of the narrative.

My name is David Tallents, a junior at the University at Buffalo in Buffalo, NY. This is my first time as a Student Upstander, although I have done volunteer work for the Enough Project in the past. I am pursuing two majors: one in Political Science with a concentration in International Politics, and another in Mathematics/Economics, as well as a minor in English. My main interests lie in international relations and diplomacy, particularly from a human rights viewpoint, and my research has focused on Central and Eastern Africa.

My name is Carmen and I have been volunteering with the Enough Project since early 2018 when I attended the Lemkin Summit to End Genocide and Mass Atrocities. I am earning my masters in international affairs and global enterprise at the University of Utah. I earned my bachelors in political science with a minor in campaign management. I also had life changing opportunities to complete several internships including the Utah State Legislature and in Washington, DC. I have been involved in human rights advocacy for over ten years and have been lucky to be a part of many incredible organizations along the way including the Enough Project and Women of the World. I research human trafficking and women’s rights issues with a focus on the African continent and Middle East. In my minimal spare time I enjoy being outdoors and learning about the earth and other cultures. After I earn my degree I plan to work for a nonprofit or international government agency to reach my dream of being an international human rights lobbyist/advocate.